Spring closing device



July 1.6, 1935.

H. c. RUSSELL 2,008,314

SPRING CLOSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 19:53

7 E25-5 f 2.8 3 38/0 e /6 es Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE W. H. Foster,

Seattle, Wash.

Application November 22, 1933, Serial No. 699,247

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of spring closing pouches and the like and more particularly to a spring closing device.

My spring closure is adapted for use with a pouch or purse where a relatively wide opening is desired. I am aware that spring closures have y been used on tobacco pouches and the like where a relatively narrow opening was suiicient. However, when an attempt is made to close a relatively wideopening and relying upon the resiliency of two similar springs which are joined together at their ends, there is not suiiicient force in the springs, of reasonable strength, to insure a firm and tight closure. It is to overcome this deiciency of spring closing devices that I have provided my present closure. It consists of novel means whereby a wide closure may be made se curely tight and be locked in its closed position against accidental opening and at the same time may -be opened by pressure applied to opposite ends by one hand. For sake of simplicity of disclosure I prefer to describe my device as it would appear when applied to a tobacco pouch or purse altho it will be apparent to anyone skilled in this art that there will be many other uses for such a closure.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a pouch made up after the teachings of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of such a pouch in its closed but not locked position.

Figure 3 illustrates `the manner of opening my purse.

Figure 4 is a top plan view similar to Figure 2 but showing the purse or pouch as it would appear after the springs had exerted their maximum pressure.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the principal parts making up my present invention. l

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken in elevation thru the locking members of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 'I--l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawing, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, I0 an I2 designate the main spring members which form with the securing and pivot pins I4, the main closure of my device. and I2 are identical in construction and are provided at one end with either a weakening cut-out Each of the members I 0,

as I6 or made of thinner material at one end so as to create the effect of weakening one half of the spring. These weakened portions are oppositely disposed substantially as shown in Figure 5.

The two members I0 and I2 are joined at their 5 ends in some convenient manner as by the turned back or looped ends which are adapted to accommbdate the pivot pins I4. Disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of members I0 and I2 is some conventional type of securing 10 means as the nob members I8 and 20. In the illustrations I have shown the ordinary inclined nobs such as form the locking means of the usual coin purse. 'I'his is only one form that might be used. Any interlocking lug arrangement would 15 be just as satisfactory excepting it is believed the form shown, lending itself as it does to finger operation might be more desirable.

Disposed on the inner spaces of members I0 and I2 are tapered lling pieces 22 and 24. 'These 20 taper from nothing at one end to considerable thickness at the end which lies over the weakenedportion I6 and I1 of members I0 and I2 respectively. When made up as a pouch or purse,

a leather or fabric covering 26 is usedwwhich is 25 suitably closed on its three sides and then `turned down between the two spring members I0 and I2 and stitched below the lower edge of the same as is indicated in Figures l and 7 at 28.

Methbd of operation so In operating my closure when it is applied to a pouch or purse it is probably best accomplished after the showing of Figure 3 in which the thumb and forefinger apply pressure to the opposite 35 ends of spring members III and I2. The rst action` when pressure is applied, due partly to the tiniluence of the iilters 22 and 24 which tend to place a slight bow on the weakest portion, is similar to that shown in Figure 2 in which side a) portions 30 and 32 remain straight whereas the opposite end portion 34 and 36 are bowed outwardly. This has the effect of withdrawing lug or ball member I8 from engagement with member 20 and thus the purse is unlocked without 45 the securing means having to be twisted with the thumb and forenger of the opposite hand as is customary in most purses.

A continuation of the pressure on each end of the springs causes the two spring members 50 I0 and I2 to separate as indicated in Figure 3. It will be noticed that the two side members do n'ot ex uniformly throughout their ends but at 36 and 34 the curvature is much more pronounced than at 30 and 32. The pouch is now open so that shredded cut tobacco can be removed therefrom or pipe can be inserted for filling or it is open, andfurther if it is used as a coin purse, for the ready selection of the desired coin.

In closing the purse it may be allowed to spring to its closed position as indicated in Figure 4 and then with pressure applied opposite each' of the lug members I8 and 20 a snap lock will be eiected. It is possible however to lock it easily `by keeping some pressure on the endsgof the spring so that a position as in Figure 2 is maintained and then by applying a slight amount of pressure as at 38 or 40. 'I'his will cause the lugs to engage and a releasing of the end pressure will complete the locking. This latter operation may appear complicated but it is easily accomplished with one hand by just pressing the indicated side portion of the pouch against some firm object.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawing are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly Within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. A pouch closure comprising a pair of plates of resilient metal, hinge joints between adjoining ends of said plates, each of said plates having a substantial slot atl one end and said ends 1ocated at the oppositeends of the closure, and an intermediate snapfastener vincluding eo-acting friction-heads mounted on the plates.

2. A puch closure comprising a pair of plates of resilient metal vsubstantially uniform in size and shape, each of said plates having an en'd portion of greater resiliency than the remainder of the plate and said end portions being located at opposite ends of the closure, hinge joints'at adjoining ends of said plates and an intermediate snap-fastener including co-acting frictionheads mounted on said plates. i.--

3. A pouch closure comprising a pair of substantially parallel, resilient plates having hinged` to be bowed outwardly from each other, each of said bowed plates having a substantial longitudinal slot located at opposite ends of the closure, a snap fastener mounted on each plate at approximately its center and said fasteners yadapted for frictional contact in retaining the closure plates in closed position., Y

HAROLD C. RUSSELL. 

